Hi my name is Ryan,

I am 49 and not professionally diagnosed. I have been very aware of my differences my whole life but didn't know what to call it. Through me reading and research over the past two years I have begun to understand myself better. I can relate strongly to so many of the things I have read about SPD but am still trying to understand if some of my other issues are related or totally separate.

The most challenging part of my SPD my whole life has had to do with eating. So many foods caused me to gag that I became very set in my ways. Trying new foods seems impossible, too much to ask. This has severely limited my diet to foods which are not so good for me. Another challenging issue I have is social interaction. In small groups, up to 3 and in a quiet setting I can manage ok. More than 3 and I tend to withdraw or avoid them altogether as it seems overwhelming.

As for work I feel very lucky. At least for now I have a good job with great coworkers. I have not discussed my condition with any of them but I get the sense they recognize that I am different. My boss especially seems aware of some of my issues and accommodates them in some ways while challenging me to improve in others.

Things I like...
1) Quiet time
2) Comfortable cloths
3) Dark rooms
4) Structure and routines

Things I don't like..
1) Concerts (too loud and too many people), but I like music
2) Public speaking
3) Trying new foods
4) Going new places
5) Clothing tags and stitching

I am still looking to get a better understanding of some of my challenges, SPD related or not. I have very strong empathetic reactions to certain things on TV or in movies. I can't watch a story about adoption without openly crying. And no I am not adopted. I can't stand to watch videos where people get hurt or embarrassed. Some kinds of comedy I find too embarrassing to watch and have to leave the room.

I have some questions also...

Is it worth getting professionally diagnosed at this point in my life?

Is there any benefit to explaining my condition to anyone at work?

BTW - The account name I choose for this site is a reference to the nickname my dad had for me, The Ghost. I spent so much time isolating as a child. People were hardly aware of my presence even when I was there. In school my siblings friends were often shocked to find out much later that they had a brother attending the same school while they were there.

Thanks for listening.

Ryan